A warm welcome to all today especially if you are a visitor. We trust you enjoy your stay in Brussels and worshipping with us today. Please join us after the morning service for coffee and drinks in the side aisle. You are most welcome to stay around and talk. If you are new please make yourself known especially to the clergy; we would be grateful if you would fill in a yellow card at the Welcome Table.

Today marks the start of our new term’s diary (through to the end of April). If you did not pick up a copy last week, there are plenty available at the back or on the Welcome Desk.

Today we welcome James Day to preach to us. James is mid-way through his final year at Westcott House, Cambridge and will be ordained Deacon this summer. James will serve his ‘title’ (curacy) at St Boniface, Antwerp, whilst remaining half-time as Professor at the Catholic University at Louvain-le-Neuve.

Next Sunday we have a special service at 10.30 when Bishop Edward Holland (known to many in the congregation) will come to dedicate the new Stained Glass East Window. There will be a large number of guests of Noel and Joan Anselot’s (the donors) and Etienne Tribolet (the creator). Marilyn Sertin representing the Intercontinental Church Society (one of our patrons) will also be here. Nigel will be back, for the service, but he does not start back officially until January 20^th following his recent hip operation. We will need 3 or 4 helpers at the end of the service next week to stack the red chairs. Please tell either one of the clergy, or the wardens that you can help.

With regard to the Centenary Renovation Project, we have been given to understand that the approval of our budget by the communes is almost complete (16 out of 19 have already approved it – the other three will come this month). Brussels Capital Region (the delegated authority of the King) are currently finalising the Royal Approvals. Please continue to pray for the completion of this process.

                                                                        Peter Walley

TODAY

At 10.30 during Communion James Day will preach on the theme ‘God’s Light in the Darkness’

At 14.00 Isaac Mensah will preach on the theme ‘Hope out of distress’.

At 19.00 Peter Walley will start a series on Luke’s Gospel ‘This is my beloved Son’.

NEXT SUNDAY at 10.30 in a special service, Bishop Edward Holland will dedicate the new ‘west’ window. See the notes above for more details.

COMING SOON . . .

Please invite friends, work colleagues and family - and come yourself - to Alpha! This 12 week course on the building blocks of Christianity begins onThursday 16January starting at 19.00 and finishing at 21.30. A hot meal will be served each week, followed by a short talk, questions and small group discussion. We are looking forward to lively debate and to discussing all questions raised (although we don't promise to have all the answers!). The Venue is c/o Carolyn Walker Rue François Debelder 11, 1200 Woluwe St-Lambert, Brussels (very close to metro stop Tomberg). For more details, please email/call Filip Ameloot at amelootfilip@hotmail.com, 02/644 05 00. Website: http://www.alphacourse.org/
The cost of the meal is €5, the Alpha manual is €2.50. Unemployed and students can come for free, please let one of the Chaplains know if you need a subsidy.

Week of prayer for Christian unity – 18 to 28 January. There will be a vigil of prayer for unity organized by the Brussels Inter-Church Committee on 23 January, at 20.00, in the Samen-op-Wegkerk, Nouveau Marché aux Grains 8, 1000 Brussels - see the poster in the porch. The Committee also produces a brochure, in French and Dutch. This gives the daily readings proposed by the World Council of Churches and the Pontifical Council, together with a commentary, and a subject for prayer here in Brussels. The readings and commentaries were prepared, this year, by an ecumenical group in the Argentine. Individuals wishing to pray for unity in their daily prayers during this week will know, if they use these readings, that they will be praying in common with other Christians throughout the world. Copies - price €0.75 - are available from the Welcome Desk at Holy Trinity, or from the ‘Comité Interecclésial de Bruxelles’, telephone 02/218 63 77 or 02/374 50 28, fax 02/375 28 42, E-mail phmfchevalierduv@swing.be

The Marriage Course hosted by St Paul’s Tervuren, starts again with a party on Friday 24 January. Leaflets are available from today at the Welcome Table. It is highly challenging and highly recommended! (Speak to Peter or Helen Walley if you want further details).

Ladies Retreat 2003 This event organised by Annick Yiend, Sarah Williams and Helen Walley will be taking place again this year at Le Cenacle (Communauté du Chemin Neuf) in La Hulpe from Friday 31 January at 17.00 until Saturday 1 February at 17.00. Our speaker will be Annie Hughes from Harbourne in Birmingham, UK.  She has a particular strength in pastoral care, prayer ministry and counselling, has 3 boys (19, 21 and 23), works part-time as Lay Chaplain to a local doctor's surgery and the rest of her time in the church where her husband is a vicar. She has led retreats for women in her diocese and one in the Ukraine in October. I have no doubts that we will be blessed by God through Annie's ministry, so do book.  Booking forms are available this week, and bookings will be taken on a first come first served basis operating a waiting list.  More info from Helen Walley 02/354 59 85 or helen.walley@belgacom.net

YOUTH AND CHILDREN

Sundays during Christmas holidays Today the normal teaching programme will be suspended, but different, slightly shorter activities will be provided.  Crèche as usual.

INFORMATION

Church administrator We are pleased to announce that Vicky Barriere will be joining us as part time administrator from tomorrow. Vicky is a member of St Anthony’s Kraainem, but knows HTB well from friends in the congregation. As a dual French/British national she is fluent in French and English so she will be a real asset to the team – and make the office staff even more ecumenical! Vicky’s hours will be from 9.00 to 13.00 on Mondays - Wednesdays and 9.00 to 12.00 on Thursdays, so we would be grateful if you would ring the office with administrative queries on Monday to Thursday mornings only.

Calling all medics/nurses/first aiders – 9.00, 10.30, 14.00, 19.00.  It would be a great help to the wardens and ushers to know of any of you who have medical, nursing or first-aid qualifications, so that we know whom to call on if someone is taken ill during a service. Please could you let Alison Rose (02/763 37 23 or Alison.rose@belgacom.net) know if you fall into one of these categories and would be happy to have your name on a first-aider’s list. 

Key Amnesty! If you have any keys to church buildings that you no longer need, please return them to the office as soon as possible! If you have keys that you do still use, please also inform the office so that we can keep track. Thanks.

Is anyone changing their computer screen who has a large old screen spare? Topsy Tournay, who has trouble with her eyesight and has only a very small screen, would welcome a larger replacement. At the same time she would like to thank everyone for their prayers and love received during her cancer treatment.

January Mission Focus is A Rocha (a Christian conservation charity). The loose plate collections at all 4 services on 19 January will go towards the work of Arocha. There will be a special focus on that day at the 19.00 service.

Bun Sundays during 2002 raised €3210. A big thank-you to all bakers and buyers. Any suggestions of small charities to be supported by Bun Sunday welcome. Please contact Ann Freeman in writing at annbarleycorn@belgacom.net or my pigeonhole in the church porch. Bun Sunday this month will be on the 19th , the 3rd Sunday instead of the 2nd.

CHS Calendars are available in church - €10 each   All proceeds to Community Help Service non-profit organisation - working for the English-speaking community in Belgium and running a 24-hour helpline. 

New daytime homegroup with crèche Would you like to make it to a homegroup
but can't, because the timing has not been right for you?  Well here is another option... There is a new morning group.  It is for anyone who finds this a good time, and we are offering a crèche (a small charge will be made). There will be opportunity for study, prayer and fellowship. We meet on Tuesdays 9.30 -11.00 at the home of Ilka Tank, 439 Chaussée de la Hulpe, 1170 Watermael Boitfort. If you are interested or want to ask any questions, then please contact Ilka Tank (02/675 52 10) or Helen Walley (02/354 59 85). We both have answer phones for you to leave a message, if necessary.  All are welcome.

Items for the Newsletter Please send these by 9.00 on Tuesdays by e-mail to David.Iliff@Pandora.be or to the Church Office.